US ready for first Black President, finds global UK survey

London, Oct 28 (ANI): Seventy four percent UK citizens think that the United States is ready for a Black president, a survey has found.

The Readers Digest survey found 70 percent of those in the UK favoured Democrat Barack Obama over his Republican rival John McCain and 74 percent thought the US was ready for its first Black president.

In the UK, 17 percent of respondents said they were pro-American, 72 percent neutral and 10 percent anti-American.

Across all 17 countries polled, most thought an Obama victory was more likely to improve the image of the US overseas, with only South Africa feeling that a McCain presidency would have a slightly more positive impact.

Overall, 69 percent believed America was ready to welcome Obama into the White House, with support for the Illinois senator greatest in the Netherlands (92 percent) and at its lowest in Russia (52 percent).

All countries polled outside the US predicted Obama would win by more than a two-to-one margin on November 4.

The results also suggested the 44th US president will be operating in a less anti-American environment than is often assumed.

Most of those surveyed were neutral, rather than hostile, when asked their opinion of the US government, with India being the most enthusiastic as 31 percent described themselves as pro-American.

Outside the US, Obama is seen as the stronger candidate when it came to tackling major world issues.

But in the US, McCain is seen as more qualified to address issues related to war and security, while Mr Obama was the stronger candidate for humanitarian issues, such as poverty, the environment and human rights.